Small fires everywhere

Number of pages: 432 pages A tightly woven novel, tracing the intertwined fates of the ideal «Richardson» family members, and the mysterious mother and daughter who turn their lives upside down. «Mia Warren» comes with her teenage daughter «Pearl» to Shaker Heights, a quiet suburb in Cleveland, and rents a house from the «Richardson» family. Then «Mia» begins working in the «Richardson» household to help the mother «Elena». The four children of the «Richardson» family are drawn to «Mia» and her daughter. But «Mia» carries a mysterious past, and ignores the rules, threatening to turn this carefully planned community upside down. An old friendship between a couple of the «Richardson» family friends attempts to adopt a Chinese-American girl, leading to a custody battle that dramatically divides the town, and puts «Mia» and «Elena» face to face. «Elena» insists on investigating «Mia»’s past, doubting her and her motives, but her obsession leads to devastating and unexpected losses. «Small Fires Everywhere» reveals the weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity, the powerful pull of motherhood, and the danger of believing that following the rules can prevent disasters.